At least 22 people have been killed and at least 80 injured after a construction crane fell on a passenger train in north-eastern Thailand, officials have said.
The crane, which was being used to construct an elevated high-speed railway, fell on the moving train on Wednesday morning, local time, causing it to derail and catch fire.
The accident occurred in the Sikhio district of Nakhon Ratchasima province, 230km north-east of Bangkok. It was travelling from the capital to Ubon Ratchathani province.
The department said in a Facebook post that the fire was under control and that rescuers were searching for people trapped inside the train.
District police chief Thatchapon Chinnawong told AFP 22 people had been confirmed dead and 80 more were injured.
"We are now asking the hospital to say how many people are in critical condition," Colonel Thatchapon said.
Local resident Mitr Intrpanya, 54, told AFP he heard a "loud noise, like something sliding down from above, followed by two explosions" at around 9am.
"When I went to see what had happened, I found the crane sitting on a passenger train with three carriages," he said.
"The metal from the crane appeared to strike the middle of the second carriage, slicing it in half."
[map]Transport Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn said in a statement there were 195 passengers on board and that he had ordered a ?thorough investigation to be carried out.
Those killed were in two of the three carriages hit by the crane, he said.
The elevated high-speed rail line, one of several under construction in Thailand, was being built above the existing rail line.
AP/Reuters/AFP
